The U.S. Forest Service has announced the Foothills Landscape Project, which affects a portion of Fannin County’s Chattahooche National Forest and has invited the public to attend Community Conversations.
“After years of collaboration with our stakeholders and partners and environmental analysis by Forest Service experts, I’m proud to share our plan to address complex conservation challenges in the Foothills Landscape,” said Forest Supervisor Betty Jewett.
The Foothill Landscape Project aims to restore and maintain “healthy forest, habitat and watershed conditions.” The Forest Service wishes to improve the habitats of rare and declining species and game and non-game species.
The project includes the following tasks:
•Maintaining and restoring pine and oak habitat;
•Increase prescribed burning;
•Conserving more areas for threatened hemlocks;
•Protect old growth forests;
•Addressing impacts to streams and waterways;
•Creating more wildlife openings and canopy gaps;
•Restoring rare habitats such as canebrakes, mountain bogs and woodlands; and,
•Enhancing sustainable recreation opportunities like trails, campgrounds and day-use sites.
Jewett said, “From the beginning, this project reflected community values to guide our work in the right places for the right reasons. I believe this new approach will bring lasting benefits to the forest and the people we serve for generations to come.”